8 Steps Successful Advocacy For Historic Resources

Steps to Successful Advocacy The following article was adapted from the original published in the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation November/December 2001 Newsletter. This document is designed to help people who are trying to save a historic building or landscape from inappropriate destruction. It is intended for use as a guide for preservation advocacy by outlining possible courses of action. We suggest that anyone involved in preservation advocacy should contact us for more specific information. We also hope that those not directly involved in preserving a threatened historic resource will save this guide or pass it on to someone who is working on an advocacy issue.

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III. Can you offer the owner any prudent and feasible alternatives to destruction? •

I. Discover whatever you can about the building or site that you are trying to preserve: •

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What makes the building or place significant? o Is the architecture unusual or special? o Did a famous architect design the place? o Did a famous person live there? o Did an important event take place there? Is it on the National or State Registers of Historic Places? If not, try to place it on a register. o A register listing usually doesn’t protect a building but it shows how significant the structure is. Is it part of a local historic district? This can be verified at the Town Clerk’s office. o Usually structures and landscapes in historic districts are protected by district regulations. o If the site is not part of an existing local historic district, consider as a long-range plan, working to incorporate it into one or establishing a new local historic district. Is it listed in a local historic resource survey? Information is available from the Massachusetts Historical Commission showing what parts of the state have been surveyed. Does it have any other type of important designation or status in the community? Remember, not every building can be saved and you cannot afford to save every building.

II. Determine what is the exact nature of the threat to the building/landscape: Is it owner neglect? o If so, then local health and zoning laws usually require that buildings should be maintained. Check to see if the local codes can reverse the situation.

Have any efforts been made to examine adaptive reuse of this property? o Consider adaptive reuse via private ownership. Old/historic buildings can be successfully converted to office, residential or retail use.

IV. Determine what your goal (or that of your organization) is. • •

Do you want to save and stabilize a building or are you considering long-term plans for the building/landscape? Long-term plans require a great deal more funding, planning and energy than just short-term stabilization. Make sure that you have a solid plan (which includes funding sources) before you embark on any large projects.

V. Determine who else is trying to save the building (local historical societies, preservation organizations, government agencies) and join forces with them. •

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Along with this, make friends throughout the community. Often a variety of people (environmentalists, business leaders, local officials) not just preservationists will join you if they believe in your cause. A group is more effective than a lone protestor.

VI. Educate the community about the threatened site. Show people why it is important to save the site. • •

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Is it threatened with demolition or with alteration beyond recognition? o Check to see if your community has a demolition delay ordinance that will halt the demolition.

One way to illustrate this is to show an image of the site with and without the historic building/landscape. When you present reasonable/feasible alternatives to demolition, you provide the community with more reasons to oppose demolition of the building or site. Often there are good reasons for demolition, you should be able to provide reasonable/feasible alternatives.

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Contact the media and keep the issue in the public eye. Contact your elected officials and inform them about the threat to the building/landscape. State your concerns about the destruction of the building/site and why it’s important to save it. Present your plan for alternatives to demolition Work with PRESERVATION Mass to help preserve the historic building/landscape. PRESERVATION Mass can help you with these keys to successful advocacy, and can also provide information on funding, on restoration contractors, engineers, architects and researchers. The Massachusetts Historical Commission is the State’s historic preservation office and can assist with National Register nominations, Local Historic District study committees and information on restoration grants.

VII. Always maintain a professional and business-like demeanor. • • •

Listen to the opposition (as you would have them listen to you) and learn from them. When you are called to make presentations, your should be clear and succinct. Emotional outbursts are counterproductive and will alienate potential allies.

VIII. Once successful in your efforts, work with the PRESERVATION Mass and the Massachusetts Historical Commission to determine the best ways to protect the site. • •

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A good first step is to get a Demolition Delay in local regulations. Another approach is to place a preservation easement on the property. A preservation easement is a legal agreement that grants a limited right to a qualified nonprofit organization to protect the property from changes which are not in keeping with its historic, architectural or natural character. It provides the knowledge that the property will be protected for generations to come. Or, consider other historic designations such as the National, or State Registers of Historic Places, historic districts, and local landmarks status.